New Ulm weekly review., 1887-10-12
SHUTTING UP PARJ4IAMENT.
just How the British Legislature il Permitted
to Run Down.

just How the British Legislature IL Permitted
to Run Down.
London Letter.
The English Parliamentary ma.
chime has at last been allowed
to run down, and it's different
wheels and springs. Tories, Liberals,
and Parnellites are off to recuperate
and get in working order for the next
winding up. Parliament, Of course,
stops work when it is tired and feels
inclined to do SO, but there is Par
liamentary fiction that the Queen
stops it, and many humorous forms
and ceremonies are gone through with
to lend q color OF reality to this an
cient fiction. will give an idea OF
what the ceremony of dismissal, call.
ed prorogation, was like.
The noble Lords were assembled in
their house, q chamber peculiarly
adapted as a background for
gorgeous fummery. 1t is bigger
than the House of Commons and In
finitely more resplendent. with its
rows Of red leather benches and bril-
liantly colored windows. The throne,
a huge mass of carving and gliding,
which is usually hidden under a baize
covering, was exposed to view for the
occasion, and SO were two little
thrones, one on either side OF the big
one, which mimic its gilded richness,
and are intended for the Prince of
Wales and the consort OF the sover-
eign. All things being ready, the Lord
Chancellor appears, gorgeous beyond
power of man to describe, in his flow
ing robes Of scarlet and erlnine. He
does not sit upon the woolsack as u.s.
ual, for the throne is uncovered, and,
although the Queen is net there, eti-
quette demands that some show OF
reverence be made to the chair on
which she would sit if present; there
fore, low, humble little bench, sus-
gestive Of a school form, except that
it is red, is placed before the
railing around the throne, and
upon this the mighty Lord
Chancellor squats, With his scarlet
robes flowing out all around he floor.
After the Lord Chancellor there
marched IN four Royal Commissioners
specially appointed to give assent in
the Queens name to the bills passed.
These Commissioners the Marquis of
Lothian, Earl Brownlow, Viscount
Cross, and Lord Stanley OF Preston
were arrayed in scarlet and ermine
likewise, fully as grandly as the Chan.
cellor, but they wore cooked hats,
while the Chancellor wore the judicial
flat cap. The four noble scarlet lords
crowded on to a little bench. two on
either side of the Chancellor, and all
five together produced an effect which
dimmed the splendor of the stained
glass windows, and almost eclipsed
the gilded throne below which they
crouched. All this while a gentleman
all in black, with cooked hat and
black stick in his hand, was rowing
about at a convenient distance.
"Black Rod" was called out, and this
mournful person, whose full tide is
Gentleman Usher OF the Black Rod,
advanced. He was ordered to sum-
mon the Speaker Of the lower House
and thefaithful Commons to appear at
the bar ofthe Lords, and immediately,
with an solemnity, trotted off. Soon
after he appeared among the Com
mons, bowling lowly but haught-
ily and summoned them to follow
him. Mr.. Isaacson was just asking g.
question of the Home Secretary, but
it was not answered, for respect 20
the Lords demands that all other
business shall be suspended when
Black Rod appears A sigh OF relief
went up from the occupants of all the
benches. TT meant the end OF their
long session.
The Speaker got down from his
chair and paced with dignifled tread,
in q gray wig, black gown, and silk
stockings, toward the House OF Lords.
Behind him,followed the sergeant-at-,
Arms and his private chaplain, as in.
dispensable an adjunct to the outfit
OF Lord Mayor, Speaker, or other
dignitary here as q silver-headed cane
is to that of fashionable youth at
home. A crowd OF members followed
along behind the Speaker, and all
crowded together at the bar, or. in
plain words, on the floor of the House
Of Lords, whittier Bla Rod had
conducted the M. The Speaker bowed
low three. times to the benchful of
gentlemen In scarlet, and the Lord
High Chancellon bowed three times to
him, but all, this display OF good will
did not seem to put the parties on the
least bit OF friendly footing. | never
saw quite as. solemn and gloomy set
OF men. And they might just as we'll
have been cheerful, considering how
Eayly they were dressed. The Chancel-
lor. apparently considered himself
much better than the Speaker, whose
wig. though pomtlefons, does not com.
pare with. the Cbancelloc's, and whose
salary Of A5. .OOa, is only half as big as
that OF his Londsbip The Chancellor
rising, Black Rod disappear ed, and
the Clerk OF the Lords assented, in the
name. OF the Queen, to the last bills
passed. I'm asserting to the Aills the
Queen, speaking through tbs Clerks
mouth, does not say, That's all
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